The poem “Maghanda ka Juan” is written by Bro. Ronald Balgado C.Ss.R of the Redemptorists Church. He read the poem during the 45th anniversary commemoration of Martial Law in Roxas Avenue, Davao City on September 21, 2017
My grandparents’ house has an underground hole. It has been there since before I was born. For this reason, I was never bothered about its existence; I thought it was originally part of the house – like a basement where Lolo could store his farm equipment. Besides, the oldest houses in their neighborhood also have small underground holes, so it was never unusual for us.
Konsyensya Dabaw stands with fellow Dabawenyos who believe that regardless of how we voted last May 2016, we should not shirk from exacting accountability from public leaders that have been part of our city’s history for the past three decades.
Are recent incidents on Lumad schools a prelude to Martial Law? A contingent from Lumad schools was derailed from taking a flight to attend a Manila conference, while a Lumad school in Indangan forcibly entered by fully-armed police happened last Saturday. Are these signs of Martial Law?
Airport police barred 32 Lumad students, teachers and parents to fly to attend their scheduled attendance to the Save Our Schools Network national conference set on September 16 on 1 pm.
At the opening of the 17th Congress last year, we joined the Majority consistent with our stand to support the promise of change of Pres. Duterte. Back then, we were encouraged by his reformist and populist actions and pronouncements on a range of issues, including: resuming the peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), releasing political prisoners, ending neocolonial ties with the US and pursuing an independent foreign policy, addressing the roots of the Moro rebellion, ending labor contractualization, increasing government support to farmers, putting a stop to destructive mining practices, reducing income taxes of rank and file employees, and increasing social pensions, and prioritizing basic social services over infrastructure.
Come September 11, 2017, it will be a holiday in Ilocos Norte Province. This is not new in the sense that Ilocanos have been annually celebrating the birth anniversary of former president Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. This Monday is distinguished because it would be the 100th birth year of Marcos, and no less than a proclamation issued upon authority of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has designated that it be a special non-working day in the province.
The Environment is doomed Our environment is at risk, not from climate change, not from natural hazards, but from mining!
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCCC-USA), bound by our faith in Jesus Christ and our common witness for the fullness of life, reaffirm a shared commitment to support the formal peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
The Philippine Task Force for Indigenous Peoples Rights and its partner indigenous communities commemorate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. On this occasion, we offer our observations on how the government has addressed the rights of indigenous peoples. Despite the enactment and implementation of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) 20 years ago and the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) 10 years ago, we find no significant changes to the situation and enjoyment of rights of indigenous peoples in the Philippines.
We look for the president’s promise of change: the socio-economic reforms and political reforms that require the president’s political will to control the resistance of the oligarch and political dynasties to fundamental change. However, the president has out of control on his cabinet, they control him and his peace policies and effort. These are the Christian challenges – a peacemakers challenge, my challenge, our challenge. A challenge that requires faithfulness and perseverance whatever it costs- comfort or even life.
